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But the fact is, heading into Tuesday's meeting with the Florida Panthers, the Senators star defenceman had been held off the score sheet 25 times this season.

That only makes his totals more remarkable.

Karlsson extended his consecutive-game point-scoring streak to eight by setting up Mark Stone for second period goal against the Florida Panthers Tuesday.

Entering the night With 20 goals and 48 assists through the first 71 games of the schedule, Karlsson had a shot at becoming just the third defenceman to average a point a game in at least 16 years. (Could be longer, but the NHL has only kept numbers on its website since the 1997-98 season.)

Only two defenceman have been point-a-game players since then. Mike Green accomplished the feat twice, scoring 73 points in 68 games during the 2008-09 season and 76 points in 75 games in 2009-10; and Nicklas Lidstrom had 80 in 80 in 2005-06, the only time in his 20-season career that he averaged a point a game.

Karlsson broke the record for most goals by a Senators defenceman he shared with Steve Duchesne Monday in Tampa.

"Obviously it's an honour, in a way," he said when asked about the new standard Tuesday morning. "I'm happy for myself of getting there, it's something I want to achieve.

"I would have traded all that for a better standing in the standings, but it is what it is. It's just one of those small things that maybe after the season, you take some pride in."

Asked about his own personal stats goals Tuesday morning, Karlsson was coy.

"You have kind of a measure stick where you want to be, and I don't think I've fulfilled anything that I wanted this year so far," he said.

Karlsson, who had 78 points (19 goals) in 81 games when he won the Norris in 2011-12, also talked about a story that came out in a Swedish newspaper on the weekend which said he's fighting fatigue as the season wears down.

Didn't look like it against the Panthers.

"I feel pretty good but obviously not probably the way I want to," said Karlsson. "I think everybody's pretty tired by this point of the year. I'm just gonna try to hold it together for the three hours that you play the game."

As he said in the Swedish paper, Karlsson admitted he misses former Senators teammates Daniel Alfredsson, Peter Regin and Jakob Silfverberg. Friendships mean a lot to him, he said.

"I think it does on every team," he said. "I mean, especially since they all were here since I got in the league. They meant a lot to me in my career. It happened quick there, a lot of changes. And it's something you're going to have to adjust to, and that's the way it is in the business we're in. And it's something you're going to have to get used to.

"I think definitely all the Swedish players have a special connection, and we were raised in certain ways," said Karlsson. "We like things the same way. It's easier to hang out on the daily basis, the amount of time we spend together, so losing those guys obviously meant a lot to me, and it was a tough transition."

STARTS AND STOPS

No surprise that Patrick Wiercioch drew into the lineup after eight in a row (and 29 for the season) as a healthy scratch. He replaced Chris Phillips, who suffered an "upper body" injury while crashing into the boards after getting tangled up with Ryan Malone in Tampa. But we were a little surprised to see Matt Kassian step in for Mika Zibanejad, who missed the game with an "upper body" issue. Likely not too serious, however, as Zibanejad took part in Monday's shootout ... Wiercioch has mostly shrugged when asked by reporters about his time in the pressbox, but his friend Kyle Turris says it's been hard on him.

"I think it's been really tough," Turris said Tuesday morning. "He's been a great professional about it. He's a guy that's very competitive, and wants to play every night. He's worked hard, he's continued to be himself, and be a pro. I think he's going to be really happy to get in tonight, and really excited. He's going to bring a lot to the game." Wiercioch stepped into Phillips spot as Cody Ceci's blue line partner. ... Kassian shook off six games worth of rust in a first period bout with Krys Barch.

BETWEEN PERIODS

The Senators are the worst draw in Sunrise. When they were here last, on Dec. 3, attendance of 10,074 was the lowest at BB&T Center in seven years. Some predicted Tuesday's game would have even fewer in the stands, but as we type this no figures have been announced ... On the ice Tuesday morning for the first time since suffering a knee injury that has kept him out of the Florida lineup for the last night games, Orleans native Erik Gudbranson is determined to return before the season ends. So impressed with Gudbranson's character are the Panthers that GM Dale Tallon recently told a local radio station the 22-year old defenceman will be the team's next captain ... What does a Sportnet host have as a pre-game meal before going to the rink? Shawn (Jax) McKenzie "mucked" a three-pound barbecue chicken (that serves four) he purchased, with the help of yours truly, for $4.88 without a Sams Club (like Costco) card ...

Ottawa Senators' Karlsson setting offensive standard

But the fact is, heading into Tuesday's meeting with the Florida Panthers, the Senators star defenceman had been held off the score sheet 25 times this season.

That only makes his totals more remarkable.

Karlsson extended his consecutive-game point-scoring streak to eight by setting up Mark Stone for second period goal against the Florida Panthers Tuesday.

Entering the night With 20 goals and 48 assists through the first 71 games of the schedule, Karlsson had a shot at becoming just the third defenceman to average a point a game in at least 16 years. (Could be longer, but the NHL has only kept numbers on its website since the 1997-98 season.)